Title: The Truth About Trees
Author: Tiny Q
E-Mail: one_legged_lesbian_seagull@hotmail.com
A/N: So yes, this is the last chapter that I have written up thus far. I wrote this on New Years Eve so that's why it's all holiday like. I really rather like the beginning but the ending ain't too great. Bah. I have no more written up anymore though, so I don't know how long it will take me to get the next chapter out. Sorry. But until then, please enjoy:
The Truth About Trees
Chapter 7
The Amazing Things One Can Do With Snow
The Christmas holidays came quickly. Well "quickly" if you look past the two weeks that droned on and on endlessly causing one to doubt time was moving at all. Or all the homework the professors wanted marked before classes ended. Or that mysterious, unexplained feeling that you truly didn't want to be there and would rather be anywhere, save Voldemort's lair. Ok. Perhaps his lair would have been better. What can I say? School annoys me near a holiday. Everyone is mean and irritable and, well, annoying.
I had thought the last Friday would be better. But was I mistaken. Double potions started out fine except for the end when Snape held Malfoy and I back for and extra "mandatory" assignment. Not that I was going home. The folks are going to Egypt to visit Bill this year. With out us. But it's the principle of it! An extra assignment! Over the holidays! And I received no other homework for the entire time! Oh well. Could have been worse, I suppose. I think the slimy git's still mad at me for talking back to him.
A large portion of the student body went home this year. Almost all the Slytherins were gone, save two: Malfoy and some first year. Very few Ravenclaws or Hufflepuffs either. The only Gryffindors were myself, the turbulent Dream Team, Colin and two third years, who I honestly think are quite deranged. But I won't get into that.
I feel rather bad for Harry. Ron and Hermione are never around anymore. And only thing he does is sit about, do homework or read about Quidditch. Or of course, he talks to me.
It's not like I have much better activities to do. Colin's girlfriend, who I really don't like. Well she doesn't like me, other than that she's ok. How do I know she doesn't like me? Whenever I see her she glares at me. Especially when Colin waves to me in the hallways. But before I went off on that little tangent I was talking about Colin.
His girlfriend went home for the holidays and I honestly think he is pouting. I never see him anymore. He just stays up in his dorm and if he leaves (I think he leaves, I rarely see him though) I'm not sure where he goes off to. Poor dear.
Well, I am in the library right not. Tucked back in a back corner by a nice, large window. Studying. Reading? Doddleing? Ok. Fine. I'm bored out of my mind. Happy? Not like I have anything better to do and I can't seem to sit still long enough to draw or write or anything else.
"Ginny?" someone's voice sliced through me boredom. "Why are you all the way back here?"
"Colin?" I asked, turning about to see my friend. Despite the fact that I hadn't seen him for a while he looked none worse for wear. He still had his sandy-blonde hobbit hair, all curly and unruly. "What's up?"
"Nothing really," he said dejectedly, plopping into the seat opposite me. "Anything up with you?" he asked, looking out the window.
"Not really," I replied with a sigh. "Though I have discovered your hand looks bigger than it normally does from the other side." He turned to look at me. I held up my arm, twisting it about so I could look at it pinky-side in. Yup. Still bigger than normal.
Colin did the same to his own hand. "Wow," he said a little surprised, looking at his hand in disbelief. "That's crazy."
And that's how Harry found us, staring at the opposite side of our hands.
"You're both insane," he said after we had explained.
And so the three of us sat in silence, staring out the window. None of us spoke for there was really nothing to say. There was nothing to really look at either. Just snow, snow and oh yes, can't forget: more snow. Ok. So I have a grudge against snow. You would too if you had to shovel all the sidewalks of Hogwarts in one go.
"Colin," Harry said suddenly, interrupting the ever long silence. We both turned to look at the bespectacled boy. "Do you wanna go play some Quidditch?"
"Sure," he replied after a moment's thought.
"What about me?" I demanded and Harry sighed.
"You don't want to play," he replied.
"How do you know?" I said indignantly, crossing my arms.
"You never do," Harry sighed. Colin nodded. I glared at both of them.
"How do you know today isn't different?" I hissed, narrowing my eyes.
"Fine," he said, putting his hands in his hair. "Ginny, do you want to go play Quidditch with Colin and I?"
"No thank you," I replied sweetly then grinned evilly at the two boys.
"Bye Ginny," Colin laughed and they made their exit. I sat there for a while, gazing out the window.
It's Christmas today. Did I forget to mention that? Well it is. I got lots of great presents too. Some good books, some quills, new clothes, an odd hat from Charlie and food. Lots of food. One can never have too much chocolate. I love chocolate.
Staring out the window I got the idea to go outside. It seemed like a nice day. Not too bright or anything. So I trooped up to my dorm (The entire tower was void of people) and got my cloak and gloves and put of my new hat. All prepared for the cold, I headed outside.
Once out there I made for the lake. But the snow wasn't as crunchy as I thought it should be. Stooping down I picked some up. It was moist. Pack-able. Roll-able. The perfect snow for a snowball fight. But there was no one around so I guess I will just have to settle for the next best thing . . .
~*~
The arrival of the holidays should have been a relief. Only one first year out of all the students in Slytherin House remained. That alone should have had me doing back flips about the Common Room. To add to that there were barely any Gryffindors left. Who can argue against that?
It should have been good. Fantastic. If it hadn't been for my father's letter. When I owled him Friday night, telling him about my potions assignment he owled me back by the next morning conveying his and mother's disappointment that I would not be them for the holidays. There was nothing mean or sadistic about it. Which was what unnerved me. He almost seemed happy about it. What could that possibly mean?
Does he really not want me to become a Death Eater? That it's all an act? Perhaps it's on the other side of the spectrum and my parents are simply happy that they won't have to put up with me. That they could care less about me either way.
Ok. Stop thinking like that. It's Christmas today. And it's not like they didn't send me any Christmas presents. It's just that- Time for a walk. I'll go batty if I continue on this particular train of thought.
So I looked about my empty dorm for my new cloak. I have gotten so used to the sound of Crabbe and Goyle snoring that the silence at night is a little creepy. All I hear is my heartbeat or the creaking of the old castle. But I found I do sleep better in the long run. Once I'm asleep that is.
My cloak was just where I left it: on my chair. So I threw it on as well as my scarf for some reason. Probably out of habit. I also put my gloves on and headed for the door. The cold air just might snap some sense into me. It's Christmas for Merlin's sake and here I am, mopping about my dorm.
It's a nice day out. Not too cold at all with little wind. And the sky is overcast so you don't get the blaring snow glare from the sun reflecting into your face. It was just right.
I started heading out to the Quidditch pitch. There were people out flying and I'm curious as to who it is. Probably being my luck it would be Potter and then I would have to explain my presence which would have something to do along the lines of spying and then they would get all mad and it just wouldn't be good.
Thankfully my attention was drawn away from the Quidditch pitch and towards the ground. Right in the middle of the snow covered grass was a trail as though someone had taken a shovel and wormed their way across the ground. My curiosity piqued, I stepped onto the exposed grass and began to follow the trail.
It went for some while winding this way and that but there was no one in sight to suggest who did it. And the trail was getting larger. It had been about a half foot in size when I started. Now it was about two. It led up to a ridge and as I made the peak it all made sense.
A girl with fire-red hair, covered in snow, was standing beside a snowball about four and a half feet tall. She had another one about half the size and was struggling to lift it. You guessed it. Weasley. And what the hell is on her head? It looks like some sort of bagpipe made out of some fuzzy material.
"Well don't just stand there," she called to me, not even turning around. Now that's a little disturbing. "Help me."
For reasons unknown to me, that I am really starting to hate, I went down to her. I stopped on the other side of the smaller snowball and she looked up.
"Oh, it's you," she said a little flatly, standing straight.
"Well who were you expecting it to be?" I sneered, crossing my arms.
"Someone else?" she offered sweetly. Was that a smirk on her face? By gods it is. When did she start doing that?! It's rather creepy on her. Not right. Not right at all.
"Well," she said slowly. "Are you going to help me or are you just going to stand there, looking at me funny?" Damn.
"What are you trying to do?" I asked halfheartedly.
"Put the midsection up," she replied, showing with her hands what she meant.
"Alright," I replied slowly, stooping down so I could get a good grip on the rather large snowball.
"On three," she said after she had taken up the same position. "Three." And so we both lifted the ball and maneuvered it to be on top of the larger one. It was heavier than I thought it would be but I didn't show it. Weasley was biting her tongue.
"Hold it there," she said after we set it gently on top. I complied and she began to scoop up snow and pack it into the crack and seam.
"How on Earth did you make this big one?" I asked, kicking it lightly. I had been wondering but I hadn't intended on actually asking.
She looked up at me, her already flushed cheeks turning redder. "Well, it was almost right size," she started slowly. "Then my foot slipped and I fell down the slope." She pointed to the ridge I had just came over and I saw the imprints in the snow that looked as thought she had slid down on her ass. Which would explain her being covered in snow. "Then the snowball came down after me and it got like this." She kicked it herself. "And it was too heavy to move so I just started making the other one."
I nodded. I suppose in some twisted way it made sense.
"Now I just need to make the head," she said happily, walking over to a selection of untouched snow and made a large ball. She squatted down and began to roll it, scurrying after it in her squatting position.
I couldn't help it. I laughed. She looked so damn funny like that. Cute almost. Ugh. Did I just say cute? About a Weasley?
"What?" she demanded, turning to look at me.
"Nothing," I smirked, getting my laughter under control. She huffed and continued to roll the ball, making it larger. Within a minute she was standing beside me, the ball at my feet.
"Could you put it up there?" she asked politely. The snow thing was already as tall as I was. I smirked at her.
"Why Weasley," I said with mock sympathy, struggling to hold back a grin. "Can't reach?"
"Shut up," she hissed, punching me in the arm. "Six inches. Big deal. Now put the head on."
"Fine, your highness," I sneered, the grin breaking thought. I stooped down, picked up the "head" and securely placed it on the second largest snowball. Weasley went about quickly with the securing bit.
"Now he needs arms," she said with a slight frown, trodding off to the underbrush by the forest. I looked towards it, but no golden eyes stared back this time. I must have imagined it.
"That's all you could find?" I sneered as she returned a bit later with two branches. One was much shorter and the other.
"That's all there is," she said mournfully. "He'll just have to be stumpy." She stabbed the two branches into the mid section at odd angles. "Now he need a face."
I looked about and spotted a pine cone. Picking it up, I placed it where I thought the nose should be. "How 'bout that?"
"Perfect," she grinned, pulling a small ribbon from her pocket and making a mouth. "Now all he needs are eyes." She scurried over to the lake and retrieved two stones and stuck them into the head. "Can I see your scarf?" she asked me with a slight grin.
"Why?" I asked suspiciously, narrowing my eyes.
"Please?" she asked, making her eyes go wide. What has gotten into her? She's all happy like. She's never like this. It's like she's lost all sense of responsibility or something. And you know what? I think it's contagious.
With a small grin, I took off my scarf and handed it over to her. She then proceeded to wrap it around the snowman's neck.
She stood back, then grabbing the sleeve of my cloak, pulled me back a few meters so we could look at the figure properly. She began to smirk widely.
"What?" I demanded, looking at her.
"It's you," she giggled. "In fifty years. All old and bald."
"What?" I growled. "I will not be bald in fifty years."
She giggled harder. "Have a high testosterone level, do we?" she asked innocently.
"What?" I asked in utter confusion. Then I did the only logical thing to do: I shoved her.
With a yelp she stumbled and fell into a snow bank.
"Hey," she hissed, slowly getting to her feet. I stood there, laughing silently. I glanced over at her and took a double take as she came charging towards me. Throwing her whole body against me, I went crashing down into the snow. She landed beside me.
I remained perfectly still for a moment. No one has ever done that to me. I have never been thrown into the snow. Not to mention body-checked. It's all rather funny really.
And so it didn't really surprise me when I started to laugh. Really laugh. The kind of laughter that reaches one's eyes. Beside me, Weasley began to laugh as well until the both of us were clutching our sides.
"I don't think I have ever laughed so hard," I gasped after a few minutes. It's true. I don't think I have.
Weasley stopped laughing and looked at me. The happiness slowly fading to something else. If I didn't know better I would say it was sadness. Perhaps even pity.
"Come eat with us tonight," she said, completely taking me by surprise.
"What?" I asked after the initial shock of it had worn off.
"Come eat with us tonight," she repeated, not breaking eye contact. "It's Christmas. You can't sit by yourself."
"What about your brother?" I sputtered Why didn't I say no? It's not like I want to eat with her. Do I? Merlin. I think I do. No. No! I do not. NO I DO NOT.
"Who cares," she hissed. "He's off in his own little world. Even if he does notice it won't matter."
"Potter then," I said a little too quickly. I know I was grasping at reasons. But how could I not? How could I willingly eat dinner with a Weasley?!
"I already told him off," she replied.
"Snape?"
"Malfoy," she growled. "You're joining us and that's final."
"Fine," I snarled, then felt my eyes go wide. Did I just- Oh no. "But I won't enjoy it," I sneered hastily.
She grinned at me triumphantly. "Of course you wont," she chided. "Though I know you will have fun," she muttered after a moment.
"Ya. Fun," I sneered back. "Like being hit in the head by a Bludger. Repeatedly."
"Oh shut up," she said dismissively. "Let's go inside. I'm cold."
"That's what you get for rolling around in the snow," I growled as I got up and retrieved my scarf. I had to shake it violently before I could put it back on. "Ready?" I asked, turning back to her. She nodded and we headed off.
What exactly have I gotten myself into?
~*~
I don't know what came over me. Why did I invite Malfoy to eat dinner with us? Christmas dinner. And why on earth did he accept?
The answer to the first question would probably be that I feel bad for him. Now that I know why he's not going home I feel bad. Even if he is my family's enemy he needs to eat. With company. I still have a hard time believing it's all real. That Draco Malfoy has a soul. Albeit a very well hidden one, but a soul none the less.
As to why he would accept my invitation I have no idea. Perhaps he's just lonely, being the only seventh year Slytherin left in the castle. But to eat with Weasleys? No. He already said that what I am doesn't matter to him. But to prove it to others? Ok. I know there is like no one left in the school, but still.
Oh what am I going to do? I suppose the logical answer would be to make sure things go as smoothly as possible. In other words: prey Ron doesn't notice.
As I chose what to wear I felt a bit nervous. And it didn't help much that most of my clothes are too big for me now. I don't know where all the weight has gone, but I can't very well complain. I finally settled on a red blouse and a knee-length black skirt. And now here I wait in our meeting place: the Entrance Hall.
"Hey Ginny!" I turned to see Colin approaching fast, looking quite cute in his blue sweater and black dress pants. "What are you doing?"
"Waiting for someone," I replied, looking about. I was early. "How was Quidditch?"
"It was ok," he replied with a sigh.
"Better than mopping about?" I said with a slight laugh.
"I have not been mopping about," he frowned.
"Of course you haven't," I said with mock understanding, patting his arm. He frowned further then something caught his attention.
"Don't look now," he whispered. "It's Malfoy."
I turned to look where he was. Sure enough there was Malfoy, sauntering over to us, his smirk already in place.
"Shall we?" he asked when he came to a stop in front of us.
"Why not," I responded and began to follow his lead.
Colin caught at my arm and whispered desperately in my ear: "He's not who you were waiting for, is he?!"
"Yes, he is," I hissed back.
"But- Ginny-" he stammered wide-eyed.
"Colin, not now," I cut him off. "It's Christmas." And with that I joined Malfoy who had stopped a few meters away. Colin followed reluctantly.
Upon entering the Great Hall it seemed someone had the foresight to solve one of my problems: Only one table was in the center of the room. Once again there were so few students. Professors Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall and Flitwick were already seated with Hermione beside the Transfiguration Prof and Ron between her and Harry.
Colin went and sat beside Harry and I beside him. Malfoy followed close behind me and sat on my other side. Ron looked over and glared daggers at me but I smirked back sweetly. He wouldn't dare try anything with the professors here. Harry arched his eyebrows as well, but I ignored him.
Within a few minutes the other students arrived and the feast began. And it was all delicious. Merlin was it good. I tried a bit of everything and contentedly listened to the professors and students talk. Several conversations were going at once. One about school. Dull. To another one about House Elf rights. I'll give you three guesses as to who started that one.
I looked over at Malfoy who was working on eating a large pile of food on his plate. I smiled slightly and he did the same in return. Well he can't very well smile outright can he? His mouth is full of food!
I turned back to Colin and was about to say something. I felt Malfoy's breath against my neck. I started and looked at him.
"Why aren't you eating?" he whispered in my ear.
Has he lost his mind? "I have been eating," I whispered back. "I had some of everything." He frowned at me, obviously not believing me, but leant back and went back to his own food.
What does he mean I am not eating? I had plenty to eat. I'm full.
Glaring at him, I looked down at my plate. It was rather empty. So to spite him I took a huge heap of mashed potatoes and plopped it right in the center of my plate. I made a hole in the center of them with my fork then poured gravy into it.
"Happy?" I hissed quietly.
He looked at my plate. "What the hell is that, Weasley?"
"A volcano," I replied simply. I used my fork and began eating the mashed potatoes from the inside wall out.
He shook his head but I could see a grin tugging at his lips as he turned his head away.
How can life get so strange? The year before nothing interesting happened to me. Nothing. No befriending an older guy. Let alone a Malfoy. None of my friends were dating. There were no bizarre love triangles. But come to think about it, beside the fact that nothing interesting had happened it had been a stressful year. Not quite sure why though.
I felt someone's breath on my neck again and I expected to hear Malfoy's voice in my ear. It wasn't. It was Ron.
"We'll talk about this later, Ginny," he hissed quietly and I turned to look at him. Hermione was a few feet behind him, frowning at me. I looked at Ron, he was glaring at Malfoy.
"Of course we will," I sneered back, then purposefully turned away and finished eating what was left of the potatoes from my plate.
Ron made an angry tutting noise and left with Hermione in tow. Harry was looking at me again and I studiously ignored him.
McGonagall and Snape left shortly after that. So did the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Dumbledore and Flitwick seemed too drunk to care what was happening and were cheerfully chatting with each other. The two deranged Gryffindors were whispering conspiratorially to each other. All the while glancing at Malfoy and I. We both glared at them and they made haste to leave.
Colin tapped my arm and I turned to look at him expectantly. He looked oddly nervous. I haven't seen him like that in a long time.
"Harry and I are leaving now," he whispered, glancing at Malfoy. "Are you going to be ok?"
"Why wouldn't I?" I asked politely back. He began to stumble for an answer but I waved him off. "Never mind. I'll be fine."
With a last worried look from the both of them, they left. I turned and looked at Malfoy who was glaring after my two friends. I began to frown as well until I realized someone was staring at me. I turned to see the first year Slytherin watching me.
So I stared back. He didn't back down either. Just kept right on staring. I started to get pissed. What a rude child. I had half a mind to give him the finger but I think Dumbledore is more sober than he is letting on.
"Let's leave," Malfoy said, touching my hand. I felt chills run up my arm. His hands were cold.
"Ok," I said, giving the first year a good glare. I followed Malfoy out and he stopped me in the Entrance Hall. The Great Hall doors slammed shut.
"I wouldn't mess with that kid if I were you, Weasley," Malfoy said seriously.
"Why?" I asked with a frown. Ok. So he was a little odd but . . .
"He's not right in the head," he explained. "Not right at all."
I looked back at the door, half expecting the boy to come out and attack. Perhaps he had a thing for human livers? With a side entrée of fava beans and a nice Chianti? When I looked back at Malfoy he was staring up at the ceiling. I followed his gaze.
"Mistletoe," he said observantly. And before I could do much more than look at him questioningly he had swooped in.
My heart stopped as his lips connected with my cheek. He stepped back quickly and smiled slightly, a pink tinge rising on his own cheeks. I felt mine burn.
"Merry Christmas Weasley," he said, then strode off towards the dungeons.
I stared after him, speechless, my hand deftly rising up to touch my cheek. He kissed my cheek.
He kissed me.
Oh Merlin.
~*~
Why did I have to say anything? I could have ignored the bloody plant. Weed is more like it. Why did I have to open my stupid mouth? I swear, I am going to cut my tongue out. That will save me the grief of making a complete idiot of myself.
Why on earth did I have to kiss her cheek? Merlin, why didn't I just kiss her?
~*~
A/N: Mwa. So that's it. I think this story will take a bit different of a direction than I first planned. It might make it a tad longer though, but that's ok. So yes, how many of you actually tried to look at your hand from the other side?? It's amazing the things one learns while bored out of their minds at school. ~grin~ And ten point to anyone who can spot the Silence of the Lambs quote. No Lallie, you are not allowed to participate. Mlah.
Thanks ever so much to: Crystal(Always blame the drugs. ~grin~), Sharlene(I think I'm going to have a gang on my hands soon. Herm better wtch out. Lol!), goodgirlsbadboys(I felt like having a nicer Draco. I personally think he's just misled by his father and I really hope he realizes it in the books), VirtualFaerie(Thanks. I needed that. And you had better not kill yourself for I would be very angry. And you don't want me to come hunt you down in the afterlife I tell ya. ~grin~), GinnyGINvampire00 aka Evon(It's sad when soap dies. But I could put another one ear mistake in for ya, if you want), Lily of the Shadow(Glad you like it), Lallie(See? I can be intelligent if I want to. Really. I can. Stop frowning at me. Oh I hate you. We need to edit you know. Us Lazy bums. ~sigh~), Selvagem(Yes, yes I did), Weasley Pride, paranoid(I don't plan to drop it. Well not yet anyway), charredrose(He can only be a hero in so many fics. And besides, he has his own book series. ~grin~), aznqtpai, tulzdavampslayer(Banned??), cladinpink(No no. It's good to know that I have some realistic stuff in here) and Lad33_Cee(Well, we'll see about that…)